Would you be willing to accept whatever electronic medical record process is in use here?

"Of course. If I am part of this group/hospital, I want to be all in and that includes my compliance with all the protocols."

This question is asked as another test of your willingness to comply with policy. You should feel comfortable complying with all policies of the organization to which you are applying.

If you are summoned to a code by a hospital-wide announcement and, when you arrive, it is being run by a physician who is less qualified to do so, how would you ensure the patient is getting the best management?

"I have no reason to usurp the position of another physician running a code, even if he or she is less qualified than me; but if so, I will be watching; I won't just leave. I have a responsibility to the patient to make sure the best resuscitative measures are being implemented, even if that means I have to "

There is no 'turf battle' more emergent than one during a code. Thankfully, running a code is not something most are willing to fight over, since the outcomes of codes are usually not good. You can tailor your answer any way you want as long as--according to the question-- you ensure the patient is getting the best management.

Do you have any personal feelings for or against acupuncturists who may be on staff? Or holistic practitioners?

"The legitimacy of the health disciplines is not my job. That is left to authorizing and credentialing authorities. If such providers are so entitled to practice, this is not a conflict for me; in fact, I look forward to observing ways to treat patients with which I'm not familiar. However, I realize there is a credentialing process in which staff physicians participate, and I will do my part, following the established guidelines."

There is a traditional antagonism between MDs and other credentialed practitioners, such as chiropractors, holistic physicians, acupuncturists, practitioners of hypnosis, and even DOs. At the hospital or large group level, it is no longer a philosophical issue, however, but purely financial. As these specialists gain credibility and acceptance in the health care marketplace, you have to present yourself as being open-minded, because as the American Board of Medical Specialties expands (or at least the authorization by state medical boards), these providers will no doubt end up beside you treating patients.

Many third-party payers are now basing reimbursement on evidence-based medicine. Do you agree this is the best way to practice?

"Evidence-based medicine is supported by the literature and being current with the literature should be your expectation of me. However, for the outliers under the bell curve, any thinking physician must not be afraid of using 'off-label,' but legitimate, indications as parts of his or her diagnostic or procedural protocols and offering solutions that the literature doesn't cite or problems it doesn't yet explore."

This is a trick question. The clich? that medicine is an art will always apply when judgement is necessary, not to mention the impact of a particular skill of a diagnostician or the technical prowess of someone doing procedures. But it is true that 'evidence-based medicine' is probably here to stay. Unfortunately, it is Gaussian and doesn't take into account the 'outliers' of the bell curve, for which thinking outside of the curve is indicated--the 'zebras' in medicine. You need to include something about that in your answer.

Do you have any hesitation referring to a cardiologist, pulmonologist, or other internal medicine subspecialty?

"I certainly plan to practice along the lines of gastroenterology, cardiology, and other subspecialties, when I can; but I make liberal use of consultation for the best health impact on my patients. If someone does something better or is more qualified from a regulatory standpoint, I will willingly defer to, or partner with, him or her in the case at hand."

This is a question that asks if you plan to practice out of some comfort zone, i.e., appropriately. Your answer should be centered on what is best for your patient, not winning some turf battle.

Do you accept Medicare assignment?

"Yes, I am a participating doctor in accepting Medicare assignment. Alternatively, I accept Medicare but am a non-participating doctor for accepting assignment."

This is really no business of theirs unless there is a policy that you must be a 'participating doctor,' accepting Medicare assignment. If it's a group, this might be so; if it's a hospital, it only applies to those employed by the hospital, not independent staff.

Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care?

"As a primary care doctor in Internal Medicine, I know that I have a responsibility to believe my patient's report of pain. In an acute setting, I plan on prescribing according to my patients need, implementing safeguards such as drug screens. With chronic pain, I feel it best to refer the patient to a rheumatologist, physiatrist, anesthesiologist, or other pain management specialist."

This answer is simple if you don't plan on managing chronic pain, but if you do, your interviewer will want to know to what extent. The opioid crisis makes for bad press from overdoses, and institutions and groups want to steer clear of the whole controversy--not to mention scrutiny from the DEA and your state board. Before your interview, you need to know that you are being asked this to see if you're overstepping into controversial practices.

How is your attendance at general staff and department meetings?

"I may have missed meetings from time to time--usually due to my being occupied in clinical duties or vacation. However, I realize how important the business of the hospital/group is, and will make every effort to improve my attendance."

Running a group or a hospital, unfortunately, requires significant bureaucracy. The doctors are needed to make that run, which means taking responsibility for the clerical drudgery involved. This means meetings--lots of meetings. And they're always at night or during office hours, which can cut into your income. Note that the question doesn't ask whether your attendance will be good, but how it has been in the past. This implies that your answer may be verified by a phone call or two, so tell the truth. (Most likely, no one will be checking up on your answer, so even if you've been truant in the past, pledge to do better.)

What would be your response to hearing a code being called in the middle of the night as you're getting ready to go home after attending a patient?

"Unless managing a clinically unstable situation or in the middle of a procedure, I would respond, and then only drop out if others were whom I felt were more qualified to attend the code."

This is a no-brainer question. Of course you would respond. It is tempting to assume that certainly someone else would be there to respond, and that is typically true, but you don't want to be seen as the type of person who would need to hear the code called repeatedly before you responded.

Would you be willing to serve on a committee investigating an issue with one of your colleagues?

"There is no easy answer for this, only a difficult one: yes, I would have an obligation to do what's right when it comes to patient care and safety, even if that means possibly being resented by a colleague. If it were a close personal friend being targeted by the investigation, I would ask to recuse myself, but I would be prepared for that not to be granted. The only thing I would want is to not be the only one making a judgement--having more than one investigator, I feel, is necessary to take politics out of such an inquiry and give it additional objective credibility."

Internal affairs and investigation are just necessary. Things happen, and when patient care is affected or jeopardized, they must be explored and dispositions made so that they don't recur. Besides Joint Commission accreditation and insurance reimbursements, a public reputation is jeopardized by uncorrected omissions or errors in care. The interviewer wants to know if you'll have the courage to step up and do what's right.

How timely is your practice to sign off on chart entries and make all of your dictations current? Have you ever been suspended from a staff for failure to do these?

"Although I've been occasionally remiss in keeping all sign-offs and dictations current, I feel it is important for me to be diligent in keeping current. It is not lost on me how reimbursement by third-party payers can be affected by incomplete charts. Just as important--to me--is the need for accuracy, and attempting to remember specifics from a procedure or rounds can become spotty if too much time has passed. For these reasons, I agree that keeping current is important and strive to do that."

This type of suspension is not a 'hard' suspension, per se: it doesn't mean there are any deficiencies in your medical care or expertise. Most physicians get a little behind from time to time, the only thing lighting a fire under them to get these clerical loose ends tied up is often suspension. Although this is frowned upon but not necessarily condemned, it does impact the hospital or group's bottom line, so the question is one of fiscal importance.

If you were to receive a communication from the Executive Committee about a practice issue of yours that it seems could have clinical repercussions, how would you address the members when meeting with them?

"Prior to my meeting, I would research the literature about what I was doing in this particular practice, be it off-label prescribing or using protocols not considered to be evidence-based. My authority allows for some latitude. If in researching this, I discover a serious problem that justifies their concern, I would report that I have learned from this and will not be repeating the practice(s) of concern. If I found that I can defend the practice based on my research, I would make my case but tell them I will abide by their decision on this."

This is more than just hospital policy, but a challenge to your clinical authority, which is traditionally up to the physician alone. Therefore, this can be upsetting. It is a question of how you handle personal challenges to your privileges. Even if you're right and they're wrong, you have to show you're willing to be a good sport about the whole thing.

How would you handle a problem in which Utilization Review wants you to discharge a patient who you feel isn't medically ready for discharge?

"If I felt it would be dangerous to send a patient home, I would write a note of necessity for continued admission, on medical grounds, so that UR could submit it for approval from a third-party payer. If the parents of a child just the want the child to stay for their convenience, I would explain that he or she has satisfied criteria for discharge, but I would also offer home health follow-up, if the parents desired and it were allowed/authorized."

This pits you against the hospital to come up with a solution for everyone's benefit. UR actions are usually based on dollar issues, protecting the hospital bottom line from insurance denials.

Tell me a little about yourself.

"I come here a few years delayed, as medicine wasn't my initial goal--I had gotten another degree. I had to go back to school to acquire some of the pre-requisites for my application to med school. Since then, I have been on track. I am married with one child. After finishing my residency, I joined the staff of the school for a year until I could decide where I wanted to go next. That brings me here."

This should be answered briefly and succinctly, and it should include why you want this position and the circumstances behind your leaving your current situation (they will want to know--and will ask if you don't say why).

"Of course! I grew up surrounded by science. My parents were both researchers and exposed me to this line of work from a young age. I spent quite a few days during my summer vacation watching them do different types of experiments. This exposure drove my interest in joining clubs like robotics and Science Olympiad during middle and high school. I decided to major in biology and join the premed track as I was interested in becoming a physician. After undergrad, I took a gap year to make sure this was a career I wanted to pursue. I worked as an emergency medical scribe to get more exposure as well as volunteered at the children's hospital. I also used this time to travel. This exposure as a scribe sealed the deal for me. I actually applied to medical schools with an interest in doing emergency medicine. During my rotations, however, I really felt becoming a hospitalist was my calling. I enjoyed working as a team with nurses, tech, case management, and consultants if they were on the team. I enjoy the acuity of care, watching the patients improve during their stay, and the overall diversity of medicine on a day-to-day basis."

If you're on a rotational call for indigent patients or patients without a doctor, how would you feel about having to see a patient in the ED whom you had dismissed from your practice.

"Although I would not choose to do this electively, I would follow policy and accept, without any personal asides to the patient. If the patient's parents chose not to accept me as their child's doctor for this episode, I would call the Patient Advocate and arrange a consultation with the patient to remedy the conflict."

This is a test of your willingness to comply with policy. Most physicians have dismissed patients from their practice for failure to pay or a failure in compliance. If you're fulfilling an obligatory role and a dismissed patient is assigned care by you, you have to accept it.

Are there any substance abuse, domestic violence, or other background items that could impact the integrity of our hospital/group?

"I have a DUI arrest in my past as a teenager. I do not have a problem with abuse, but my arrest required I partake in prevention programs, which I completed successfully."

Such situations are a reason for running away from a current situation. If there is such a damaging component in your history, own it, and explain the steps you took to eliminate the risk of it recurring, i.e., rehab, successfully completed therapy, etc. Let the interviewer know you are comfortable with a probationary period or supervision if deemed necessary.

Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care?

"As a primary care doctor in Internal Medicine, I know that I have a responsibility to believe my patient's report of pain. In an acute setting, I plan on prescribing according to my patients need and implementing safeguards such as drug screens. With chronic pain, I feel it best to refer the patient to a rheumatologist, physiatrist, anesthesiologist, or other pain management specialist."

This answer is simple if you don't plan on managing chronic pain, but if you do, your interviewer will want to know to what extent. The opioid crisis makes for bad press from overdoses, and institutions and groups want to steer clear of the whole controversy--not to mention scrutiny from the DEA and your state board. Before your interview, you need to prepare to be asked this and be cautious about overstepping into controversial practices.

How do you feel about telemedicine?

"To me, the difference between telemedicine being appropriate or not is a function of Signs-vs-Symptoms. That is, I require a patient's physical presence and an exam to document signs that are applicable to the chief complaint, but symptoms are a different matter. If the patient is established with me and I am familiar with his or her case, I can discuss and manage symptoms or medications via telemedicine. If the patient is seeking an initial appointment with me, I would need to see him or her before relegating appropriately to telemedicine protocols."

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine is probably here to stay, and everyone--including hospitals and groups--is looking for ways to incorporate it in a fiscally prudent way. You should be seen as ready to embrace it, not blindly, but thoughtfully within the parameters of what is considered good medical care.

What invasive procedures are you planning to do?

"My invasive procedure complication rate is within acceptable standards, and I follow my specialty to satisfy all criteria for such procedures, qualifying both the need for the patient and supporting my ability to perform them. I can cite the actual complication rates when I apply for the specific invasive procedures as part of your vetting process."

This is a matter of what exact privileges you're seeking in this position. They don't want 'mavericks' who are seeking privileges beyond their training.

If you were to see a peer doing or saying something inappropriate, how would you respond?

"First, I would make sure I saw or heard correctly. Depending on the transgression, I would either confront him or her discretely to resolve it vs. report it up the chain of command. I would report up if I felt it compromised patient care, would reflect poorly on the hospital (group), or be unethical, immoral, or illegal."

This isn't your problem to fix. You can't go wrong answering this question by saying you would go up the chain of command. A hospital or group wants something like this handled a certain way, and their best assurance that this will happen (when you're involved), is to pledge yourself to that chain of command, i.e., up the ranks to department chairman, Executive Committee, administrator, etc.

Do you have any personal problems with our seeing or assigning you indigent or "charity" cases?

"Having issues with seeing anyone would go against my own values--I will see anyone who needs my services. I know that the demographic here is weighted toward the underserved, so taking care of them would be my obligation, if I am presented such a scenario."

Before you interview, you should learn the demographics of this group or hospital. You should be comfortable with the demographic distribution because that will determine the type of practice you will have or how you will interact with this demographic. Regardless of whether they take care of such patients, you should always state you have no personal problems seeing anyone who needs you--you can't go wrong saying this! Many groups and hospitals are required, for example, to have a 'life-and-limb' list of doctors who rotate turns seeing uninsured emergency patients. If a hospital, for example, accepts any federal funds (Medicare or Medicaid), no patient can be refused in their Emergency Department. If you're doing your duty serving on a 'life-and-limb' ED rotation, you will still be required to see such patients, as well as provide follow-up in your office, regardless of your practice preferences.

If you're not available, due to illness or vacation, for example, how will your patients be cared for?

"I plan to serve on committees within your department so that I can enter into some reciprocal call agreements with other staff members as soon as possible. However, I won't be taking much time off as I build my practice, because the low numbers will not be too taxing before it gets built up over time."

This is a straightforward question, and the answer is always part of the by-laws of any institution. In other words, if you're on staff, your patient should never go without care if you have not made arrangements for coverage. If you're not new to the area, you should identify others on staff with whom you expect to have a reciprocal on-call relationship. If you're new to the area, you should state you intend to be full-time responsible until you can establish such reciprocal relationships. An extra overture would be to say you plan to serve on many committees in order to meet others in your specialty.

Here we have a policy of _______. Do you have a problem with that?

"I wouldn't seek a position here if I had a problem with that. My only professional stipulation is that I can treat any person who needs my services and be allowed to do what is best for him or her."

You should never have a problem with any policy of the place to which you're applying. A good example is a Catholic hospital that won't do provide pregnancy termination counseling. Before you interview, you should decide whether you can practice under such constraints. Luckily, seldom are there any stipulations that will ruin your life.

Do you have any past or current lawsuits, including any settlements?

"I have three lawsuits, each one of them is due to a complication--one an allergic reaction to a dressing, another due to side effect of a medication, and another for the need for a transfusion in a patient with anemia. After discovery, I expect all three to prescribe without incident or settlement."

This is a straightforward question. No one wants someone certain to lose them money or jeopardize their reputation. However, it is a truism that all physicians are at risk for malpractice suits, whether these actually come to pass or not. The interviewer will not dismiss you for lawsuits--he or she just doesn't want someone who is sued so frequently, as to suggest there's a problem. That being said, not all suits come to pass, and a lawsuit filed is not a deal breaker; many are just filed against you for the purpose of initiating and accomplishing discovery to see if there really is merit to a case. If there aren't really any substantial missteps on your part, these go away or prescribe, and your interviewer will know this. A settlement, on the other hand, can be just as bad as a lawsuit you lose, because most settlements are made to mitigate the damage of a likely unfavorable outcome. If there are suits, losses, or settlements, be truthful, but half of the truth is your side of the story, so make sure you give it. Do not blame your previous institution or group--that just looks bad for you. Take ownership, but if you can explain why a lawsuit occurred due to a complication and not overt malpractice, this is something any hospital administrator will understand.

What can you bring to our group/hospital?

"The whole reason I want to be here is the pursuit of excellence and state-of-the-art medicine you're known for. Also, your continuing education fits in well with my needs for growth and my interest in teaching. It makes an excellent foundation for my special interest in pulmonary challenges, especially with the ventilator management you've been challenged with in your ICU and the challenge to manage it even better there and in your Internal Medicine Department."

You don't just want to say that you're an expert or have a lot of experience, but be a little bold here by stating that, although you find it very impressive here, you have noticed that there are some gaps in the total picture of care rendered, and that you feel you can fill these gaps. This is a way of saying that selecting you will bring value to the organization. You can further state that you can bring additional resources that most hospitals don't have, which would make this organization stand out above the rest. These are the offerings that will make you particularly attractive, where you tout your special interests; special interests are specific aspects of one's specialization that do not have the bureaucratic designation of certification by a board. For example, you may be board certified or board eligible in Internal Medicine, or even further trained (for example, in Pulmonolgy), but you might say you have a special interest in Covid-19 ventilator management; this would sound very fortuitous to a hospital struggling with a high Covid-related census of patients on ventilators.

What is it about this group/hospital that makes you want to be a part of it?

"I know that the values here align with my own personal values. I have done a lot of research, and I especially appreciation the dedication to community interaction, your embracing diversity, and always putting the patient and his or her family first. I think I'd be very happy here with the professional mindset, and I'd be a good fit."

You must assume the interviewer thinks his or her hospital/group is absolutely wonderful...or potentially wonderful with the addition of the right person--hopefully you. You can stroke the corporate ego and begin endearing yourself to the interviewer by invoking the Mission Statement and/or Vision of the hospital or group. Most hospitals will have these, prominently displayed on the landing pages of their websites; they are brief and easy to imbue into your interview strategy. You can tell the interviewer that you find the values you saw in the Mission Statement and/or Vision Statement align with your personal views of how you want to lead your professional life. Don't actually refer to the Mission Statement and Vision when you answer; just state that you find this group's values align with yours, and you can paraphrase the ones you saw displayed.

Internal Medicine Physician Interview Questions

Go Back

1. Would you be willing to accept whatever electronic medical record process is in use here?
2. If you are summoned to a code by a hospital-wide announcement and, when you arrive, it is being run by a physician who is less qualified to do so, how would you ensure the patient is getting the best management?
3. Do you have any personal feelings for or against acupuncturists who may be on staff? Or holistic practitioners?
4. Many third-party payers are now basing reimbursement on evidence-based medicine. Do you agree this is the best way to practice?
5. Do you have any hesitation referring to a cardiologist, pulmonologist, or other internal medicine subspecialty?
6. Do you accept Medicare assignment?
7. Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care?
8. How is your attendance at general staff and department meetings?
9. What would be your response to hearing a code being called in the middle of the night as you're getting ready to go home after attending a patient?
10. Would you be willing to serve on a committee investigating an issue with one of your colleagues?
11. How timely is your practice to sign off on chart entries and make all of your dictations current? Have you ever been suspended from a staff for failure to do these?
12. If you were to receive a communication from the Executive Committee about a practice issue of yours that it seems could have clinical repercussions, how would you address the members when meeting with them?
13. How would you handle a problem in which Utilization Review wants you to discharge a patient who you feel isn't medically ready for discharge?
14. Tell me a little about yourself.
15. If you're on a rotational call for indigent patients or patients without a doctor, how would you feel about having to see a patient in the ED whom you had dismissed from your practice.
16. Are there any substance abuse, domestic violence, or other background items that could impact the integrity of our hospital/group?
17. Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care?
18. How do you feel about telemedicine?
19. What invasive procedures are you planning to do?
20. If you were to see a peer doing or saying something inappropriate, how would you respond?
21. Do you have any personal problems with our seeing or assigning you indigent or "charity" cases?
22. If you're not available, due to illness or vacation, for example, how will your patients be cared for?
23. Here we have a policy of _______. Do you have a problem with that?
24. Do you have any past or current lawsuits, including any settlements?
25. What can you bring to our group/hospital?
26. What is it about this group/hospital that makes you want to be a part of it?

Internal Medicine Physician Interview Questions

1. Would you be willing to accept whatever electronic medical record process is in use here?

2. If you are summoned to a code by a hospital-wide announcement and, when you arrive, it is being run by a physician who is less qualified to do so, how would you ensure the patient is getting the best management?

3. Do you have any personal feelings for or against acupuncturists who may be on staff? Or holistic practitioners?

4. Many third-party payers are now basing reimbursement on evidence-based medicine. Do you agree this is the best way to practice?

5. Do you have any hesitation referring to a cardiologist, pulmonologist, or other internal medicine subspecialty?

6. Do you accept Medicare assignment?

7. Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care?

8. How is your attendance at general staff and department meetings?

9. What would be your response to hearing a code being called in the middle of the night as you're getting ready to go home after attending a patient?

10. Would you be willing to serve on a committee investigating an issue with one of your colleagues?

11. How timely is your practice to sign off on chart entries and make all of your dictations current? Have you ever been suspended from a staff for failure to do these?

12. If you were to receive a communication from the Executive Committee about a practice issue of yours that it seems could have clinical repercussions, how would you address the members when meeting with them?

13. How would you handle a problem in which Utilization Review wants you to discharge a patient who you feel isn't medically ready for discharge?

14. Tell me a little about yourself.

15. If you're on a rotational call for indigent patients or patients without a doctor, how would you feel about having to see a patient in the ED whom you had dismissed from your practice.

16. Are there any substance abuse, domestic violence, or other background items that could impact the integrity of our hospital/group?

17. Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care?

18. How do you feel about telemedicine?

19. What invasive procedures are you planning to do?

20. If you were to see a peer doing or saying something inappropriate, how would you respond?

21. Do you have any personal problems with our seeing or assigning you indigent or "charity" cases?

22. If you're not available, due to illness or vacation, for example, how will your patients be cared for?

23. Here we have a policy of _______. Do you have a problem with that?

24. Do you have any past or current lawsuits, including any settlements?

25. What can you bring to our group/hospital?

26. What is it about this group/hospital that makes you want to be a part of it?

21. Do you have any personal problems with our seeing or assigning you indigent or "charity" cases?